Chinese private company ENN Group Co. Ltd. plans to set up a
network of natural gas refueling stations along US highways for
heavy-duty trucks. ENN aims to establish 50 locations in 2013
alone.

According to industry experts, natural gas stations cost
around $1 million (MM) to build, on average, which pegs ENN's
US investments for this year at around $50 MM. ENN has
partnered with Utah-based company, CH4 Energy Corp., to develop
the network.

The two companies operate under the name Blu LNG, which is a
segment of their joint venture, Transfuels LLC. ENN holds a
majority stake in the JV. The Chinese firm also hopes to
construct LNG plants in the future.

Chinese companies appear eager to invest in the US shale
boom. ENN's plans come on the heels of a February announcement
by Chinese state oil firm Sinopec that the firm will spend $1
billion to acquire oil and gas assets in the Mississippi Lime
shale play from Chesapeake Energy.

ENN is one of a small number of companies looking to enlarge
the US' natural gas fueling infrastructure. Other players
include Royal Dutch Shell and Clean Energy Fuels Corp., which
is backed by US natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy and oil
tycoon T. Boone Pickens.

Clean Energy aims to construct 50 to 60 natural gas stations
in the US this year. Shell has plans to open 100 stations,
although it has not set forth a timeline for these projects.

An expanded natural gas refueling infrastructure will
translate into large cost savings for trucking companies.
Shippers can save approximately $2 per gallon by fueling their
trucks with natural gas instead of diesel.

A bigger network of refueling stations will also increase
the popularity of natural gas vehicles in the US by ensuring
that long-haul trucks are able to refuel along their highway
routes.

ENN has already established natural gas refueling stations
in China, which is ahead of the US in its use of natural
gas-fueled trucks.